Unknown WWI sniper - need help

[MIMAK]

Hello all.

Friend of mine bought it few years ago. We do not know what is the production year or manufacturer and if it is original or no. Please let me know what do you think of it?

 

[MIMAK]

more pictures

 

[MIMAK]

and more

 

[Absolut]

This rifle has been posted recently on this forum in another thread. See here: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/gew98-sniper-identification.57903/

 

[krukster86]

This rifle has been posted recently on this forum in another thread. See here: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/gew98-sniper-identification.57903/

Absolut, thanks for sharing that link.

I don't know how much I can definitely contribute to this mystery, as it is in pretty rough shape (and sniper rifles are a minefield that I have no interest in beginning to navigate), but I can make out a couple of things:
The stock is matching and is Polish marked (D over 2 in an oval Polish inspection proof). I wonder if there is another proof on the bottom of the semi-pistol grip
Barrel shows typical markings of a Polish rebarrel (and matching)
Bolt looks like it is matching and it has the Polish eagle proof on the knob like a later pattern Wz.29, but has the serial number stamped on the bolt stem base (rather than the bolt "arm") and it looks forcibly bent. I have looked at photos of Polish Gew.98 snipers in the paperback "Wielki Leksykon Uzbrojenia Wrzesien 1939 (Tom. 178) Strzelecy Wyborowi", and have seen various examples of Polish sniper rifles (diagrams and period photos). Unfortunately, the book is geared towards overall history of the sniper program and some fundamentals, rather than a "collector's guide" to collecting rifles. I have seen examples (period photos) with both straight bolt handles and bent ones.
The particular scope and scope mount doesn't appear in the book, but there are a lot of photos in the book of Polish snipers using domestically produced scope/scope mounts and old German equipment/components. The scope rings seem to be numbered to match the rifle, but I am way out of my depth with anything sniper related, if it is genuine.
As far as the scope goes, I know from a quick googling that Dr. Walter Gerard scopes were made both for military snipers as well as for commercial sales. This one doesn't appear to have the markings I have seen on German military sniper versions, but I am not knowledgeable enough on this topic to know if things were done differently for exported scopes to other countries.

An interesting rifle for sure. If it is definitively proven to be an authentic Polish sniper rifle, it is quite desirable, even in relic-ish condition.

 

[Cyrano4747]

Looks like the receiver/bolt area was pretty heavily cleaned. Might want to check and see if there are any faint but partially obliterated markings there.

 

[biggymu]

I thought it was Polish, in the link Absolut provides, seller states he put it in rust remover.
The rear base has survived better than the rest of the weapon. The age and wear of all other parts is consistent. Poland must have had some scoped rifles one would imagine. It is interesting.

 

[krukster86]

Poland must have had some scoped rifles one would imagine. It is interesting.

The book shows the Poles using a mix of domestically made PZO Warszawa scopes and German Zeiss scopes.

 

[biggymu]

This fits the “domestically produced” description. That must also be a rare book!

 

[Ukrainianmight]

This fits the “domestically produced” description. That must also be a rare book!

It comes up on ebay now and then. I got mine thanks to krukster86. Only like 20 bucks. Unfortunately it's in polish

 

[Absolut]

The rear base has survived better than the rest of the weapon. The age and wear of all other parts is consistent.

I fully disagree. I highly doubt the rear base was in place when everything was cleaned from the rust. Maybe the rifle though has had holes in that area which were used for this scope base.

Polish inter war sniper rifles are something very specific. I have that booklet too. Note there are two kinds of sniper rifles: the Mauser Double Square Bridge equipped Gew98 (and K98k) rifles with Zeiss Zielvier in overbore mount with lookthrough rings, and the Polish scopes, which are all offset to the left. This rifle is neither of these patterns.

 

[neonelect]

I did NOT remove the base when I dumped it in deruster.

 

[Absolut]

By chance any pictures prior to dumping them in deruster?

 

[neonelect]

Unfortunately not, it was around 3 years ago. I have only these

 

[biggymu]

I fully disagree. I highly doubt the rear base was in place when everything was cleaned from the rust. Maybe the rifle though has had holes in that area which were used for this scope base.

Polish inter war sniper rifles are something very specific. I have that booklet too. Note there are two kinds of sniper rifles: the Mauser Double Square Bridge equipped Gew98 (and K98k) rifles with Zeiss Zielvier in overbore mount with lookthrough rings, and the Polish scopes, which are all offset to the left. This rifle is neither of these patterns.

“The rear base has survived better than the rest of the weapon”
I was eluding to what you said outright. It looks as though the rear base is a later addition.
But I have no way of knowing when or if this is the case.